A column for people who remember what
the world was like before there was color.....
Pay Attention Now, There Is Going To Be A Quiz August 2nd, 2000
It seems to me, from reading messages from readers, that many of us share the common trait of worrying about what we don't know about using our Macs rather than celebrating what we do know. So see if you can answer the following questions about your Mac. I bet you will be surprised at how much you have learned since you first started. Answers and resources for additional information can be found at the end.
1. What is an operating system (OS) and which one are you using?
2. What are 3 ways you can tell your computer to print a page?
3. What does it mean to rebuild your desktop?
4. How does one cut and paste from one document to another, or within the same document?
5. What does a modem do and why do you need it?
6. How can one find out how much memory is available on their computer?
7. Will changing the available memory for one program take memory from another?
8. What is a browser?
9. Name at least one reason to explain why you may not be able to open a document sent to you as an attachment to an e-mail.
10. How do you make an alias of a file?
11. What things can you do to free up memory on your e-mail system?
12. How do you change, eliminate, or add tool bars?
1a. Your Operating System
Every computer must have an operating system to run other programs. The operating system performs basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.
Drawing of The Operating System
1b. To Determine What Operating System You Are Using
First
Click somewhere on your desktop in a blank spot.
Second
Go to the Apple Menu in the upper left corner of the screen.
Third
Choose "About This Computer"
Last
A window will pop open and you can read all the specs pertaining to memory.
2. Three Ways To Tell The Printer To Print
Using the Toolbar
Using the Keyboard
Using the Toolbar
Click on the Print option under the File pulldown menu.
Hold down the Apple key and the P key at the same time.
Click on the print icon on your toolbar (if you have it displayed).
3. Rebuilding The Desktop
How
Why
When
Hold down the Command and Option keys when the Finder starts up. A window will appear asking if you want to rebuild your Desktop. For the best results, start up with extensions off to rebuild.
Rebuilding the desktop usually solves the common problem of generic icons appearing for files that you know were created in a particular application. For instance, if you created a Word document and it doesn't have the normal Word icon but a generic document icon, rebuilding the desktop will usually fix the problem.
On other occasions, the desktop file may be damaged. Rebuilding will usually fix the problem.
Apple recommends that you rebuild your desktop once a month.
For more information on rebuilding the desktop you may want to read the following previous columns. Column 1, Column 2.
4. Cut, Copy, Or Paste
First - Highlight material by
holding down the mouse button and dragging the cursor over the material (parts of a document)
or choose Select All from the Edit pulldown menu (whole document)
Then - Grab material by
choose Copy or Cut from the Edit pulldown menu
or hold down the Apple key and either the C or X key at the same time
Then - Save material in new spot by placing the cursor in the new location and clicking once and then
choose Paste from the Edit pulldown menu
or hold down the Apple key and the V key at the same time
5. Modems
The word modem is an acronym for Modulator Demodulator. It is simply a device that converts data from digital computer signals to analog signals that can be sent over a phone line. This is called demodulation. You must have a modem to get on the internet. Most newer Mac's have built-in modems. Don't make the same mistake I did, I was helping someone hook up their "new" older Mac and kept trying to get it to work with an external modem when it had one built-in. No matter what you do, your computer will recognize only a built-in modem if one is present and there is nothing you can do to change that.
6. Computer Memory
First
Click somewhere on your desktop in a blank spot.
Second
Go to the Apple Menu in the upper left corner of the screen.
Third
Choose "About This Computer"
Last
A window will pop open and you can read all the specs pertaining to memory.
7. Adding Memory to Applications
If you increase the memory for application A your action has no effect on applications B, C, D, etc. Each is a stand alone, loaded on your hard drive. However, when you run those applications you are using ram and unless you have some kind of super computer, your hard drive will be much, much bigger than your available ram. For instance, on my computer I have 1/10 a much ram as I have hard drive space. So, where you run into trouble with increasing the memory available on applications is when you attempt to have several open at one time. Your system application is always going to take up a lot of ram space, no matter what.
It is perfectly acceptable to increase your applications memory as much as you want, and sometimes it is the only way to make your application work efficiently. For instance, the recommended memory for my Graphic Converter application is 4096 K, but I have increased that to 10,000 K so it won't freeze up when I am working with a larger graphic image.
For more information on adding memory you may want to read the following previous column. Column 1, Column 2
8. What Is A Browser?
A web browser is the software program you use to access the World Wide Web, the graphical portion of the Internet. Although many different browsers are available, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator are the two most popular ones. Both browsers are based on the first browser, called NCSA Mosaic, which was developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications in the early '90s.
9. Can't Open That Attachment
The most common problem is caused when someone sends you a document that was saved in a format that is not available on your computer. If you send someone using a PC a document you have created in AppleWorks, chances are they will not be able to open it. One way to get around this problem, when sending text documents, is to save them in the pdf format as it can be read by any computer so long as the user has downloaded the free Adobe Reader application.
Another common problem occurs with graphic images. Even small graphics take up lots of space so they are always compressed to allow them to be sent. The recipient of the document must decompress the document before they can read it. To do so requires an application such as Stuffit. Stuffit, properly installed, will automatically unstuff or decompress the images that come to your machine.
10. Make An Alias
Why
Using The Toolbar
Using The Keyboard
You need alias' when you want to have a handy connection available on your desk top or in a powerbar or tool bar.
Choose the icon you want to use by clicking on once. You do not want it to open.
Click on the Make An Alias option under the File pulldown menu.
The text under the alias icon will be in italics.
Drag the icon to your chosen location.
Choose the icon you want to use by clicking on once. You do not want it to open.
Hold down the Apple key and the M key at the same time.
The text under the alias icon will be in italics.
Drag the icon to your chosen location.
For more information on alias' you may want to read the following previous column. Column
11. Freeing Up Memory In Your E-mail Program
First
Open your e-mail program
Then
Find the folders for your particular application and select Deleted Items or Trash, or what ever term is used by your application.
Then
Delete everything. Even though you have already deleted the documents, they will remain on your computer, taking up space in your e-mail application.
Then
Repeat these steps for the Sent folder, but a bit more carefully, so that you don't delete anything you may need for further reference.
For more information on freeing up memory in your e-mail program you may want to read the following previous column. Column
12. Making The Best Use Of Toolbars
In The Word Processing Application
In Other Applications
Open AppleWorks and go to the downward arrow found on your toolbar, probably on the left side under the Apple. Select an option such as New Button or New Tool Bar and follow the directions.
Open Outlook Express and select Preferences under the Edit Pulldown menu. Choose Display. Your only options are to show or not to show the toolbar.
Open Microsoft Explorer and select Preferences under the Edit Pulldown menu. Choose Browser Display. Your options are to designate between icons, text, or both.
Open Microsoft Word and select Toolbars under the View Pulldown Menu. Choose the one you want to modify or choose customize to create your own. Follow the directions.
Open Netscape Navigator and select Preferences under the Edit Pulldown menu. Select Appearance. Your options are to designate between icons, text, or both.
For more information on toolbars you may want to read the following previous column. Column
If you have any tips, suggestions, or other comments about this, or any other Mac topics, send them to me so that I can share them with other readers.
Copies of Nancy's book Tips, Hints, and Solutions for Seasoned Beginners Using Apple Macintosh Computers With OS X are available in PDF download versions for US$9.57 and in print version for $18.15 plus $4.00 shipping. To view sample pages and get ordering information visit the September 14, 2004 column.
Check out Nancy's complete index of all her columns for the most complete list of tips anywhere. The list is categorized and is a great reference when you are looking for help!
Talking to a generation that remembers what the world was like before there was color,
covers issues for people who don't care how their computer works, but rather what their computer and the internet can do for them.
Nancy has a Master's degree in Human Services Administration and prior to her retirement she worked for almost 30 years in field of mental health and mental retardation. She has been a Mac user for 11 years, and has recently developed an avocation of teaching basic computer skills in both group and one-to-one settings.
